Don't Hurry in Life, Slow Down

“To achieve success, one must not be hasty. By conducting oneself with composure, avoiding impatience and recklessness, and proceeding steadily and prudently, one can accomplish great things. Feng Tang once said, ‘Not being in a hurry, taking it slow, is the correct attitude.’ Those who achieve great things do not initially reveal their brilliance or seek immediate gains. Instead, they accumulate gradually over time, bit by bit, until their efforts, like water dripping on stone, lead to significant accomplishments.

 Patience in Accumulation

Zhuangzi said, ‘When going to the wilds, one takes three meals and returns, the belly still full; when going a hundred miles, one lodges for the night and pounds grain; when going a thousand miles, one gathers provisions for three months.’ The farther one intends to go, the more time is needed to prepare. According to the law of conservation of energy, one must put in as much as one expects to get out, just as one must give more to receive more. Clearly, those committed to a long-term path must allow themselves to settle down in the early stages, accumulate patiently, and undergo prolonged refinement to truly mature. Regardless of whether the road ahead is smooth or rugged, one must proceed calmly, peacefully, and steadily. Without haste, without overstepping, without entanglement, with composure and equanimity, one must tread solidly, leaving behind one footprint at a time on this journey. As Li Dazhao once said, ‘Everything must be done with a solid foundation, not in flights of fancy, not in pursuit of empty fame, but with a steadfast attitude in seeking truth.’ Meals are eaten one bite at a time, roads are traveled one step at a time, and words are written stroke by stroke. Always believe in the principle that haste makes waste, and only then can we refrain from being impatient, focus our minds, and continuously refine and elevate ourselves.

Truly formidable individuals never rush anything.

To achieve success, one must put in significant effort and even make great sacrifices behind the scenes. The greater the goal one seeks to achieve, the more sweat one must shed. Only through persistent effort, continuous accumulation, and dedicated hard work can one achieve success. Zeng Guofan once said, ‘Only the utmost sincerity in the world can overcome the utmost hypocrisy, only the utmost clumsiness in the world can overcome the utmost cunning.’ Indeed, one must approach current matters with the utmost sincerity, exhibit the utmost patience in doing one’s best, and maintain the simplest mindset to truly attain the life one desires. Undoubtedly, such a mindset requires time, experience, contemplation, and refinement. It also requires us to adopt a non-hurried, non-anxious, and non-perplexed attitude to fulfill it. Therefore, slow down, do not be impatient, and find your own direction, the path you want to persist in, and then move forward bravely and boldly. In this way, by taking it slow, we will eventually reach even the farthest destinations.

In life, one must not be hasty.

The Dao De Jing states, ‘He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty.’ A truly formidable person is always independent and capable of overcoming their own emotions and desires. They understand that the greatest enemy in life is oneself. By conquering oneself, finding one’s life orientation, identifying one’s path, and then patiently refining, transforming, and triumphing over oneself, we can certainly witness more beautiful scenery and experience a more fulfilling life on the long journey of life. Always believe, do not be hasty, and only then can we lead a fulfilling life.”